“sorry for thinking donald was Saddam Hussein that one time” #GeneralMilley #maddow pic.twitter.com/YwOErimpI3
— Will's Media Reform School #DoBetter ⚖️ 🌻 (@bywillpollock) June 12, 2020
As a writer who sips coffee and blogs when current events get me cranky I couldn’t even *begin* to know what military combat feels like.
With that in mind, I’m throwing up this post because apologies matter. Gen. Mark Milley’s graduation address clarified his position on gassing protestors at Lafayette Square but his speech was—can’t stress this enough—NOT an apology.
CJCS Gen. Milley did not give WH a heads up before his apology today for taking part in last week's photo-op, though he did reach out to former Joint Chiefs chairs. But Milley hasn't faced same blowback as Esper did last wk, w/ @vmsalama @kaitlancollins https://t.co/XqAGDgorkv
— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) June 12, 2020
🎖️🎖️Gen Milley apologizes for joining Trump's photo op – that required an assault on peaceful protesters. Milley's role spurred Gen Mattis to break his silence, send up emergency flare about military independence. @DanLamothe https://t.co/egDHzSkhmH
— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) June 11, 2020
On Fox, Rep. Bigg says Milley's apology for Lafayette Square involvement was "insubordinate"
"I think Gen. Milley was insubordinate to come out and hold basically a press conference undermining POTUS … he's not supposed to be out there trying to foment, basically, discord" pic.twitter.com/MlZbuUm1ob
— Lis Power (@LisPower1) June 11, 2020
“I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from…”https://t.co/tyS9CG8f1L
— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) June 11, 2020
Lazily tweeting or publishing nonsense stories that afford Milley credit for an apology where none is due? That’s the statement of our current news media and how they relentlessly fail to interpret what they see and hear in front of them. When donald fires Milley for messing up his tantrum it’ll be after media faceplanted, again, on what actually happened here.
Do the words “I’m sorry” or “I apologize” appear in his video? No, they don’t. But more to the point: Milley was complicit in furthering that petulant insecure Orange Man’s fever dream of being Russian Military Autocrat. Giving Milley credit for a non-apology ascribes benefit of the doubt to the entire criminal regime. 🔴
Will Pollock
is a perpetually crabby New York City escapee based in Midtown Atlanta. He’s a freelance multimedia journalist, media analyst and author of two books (award-wining Pizza for Good & Leaving Triscuit), with more on the way.
In 2001, Will earned his Masters from The Medill School of Journalism, graduating with highest honors from the magazine sequence. As permanent member of Journalism’s National Honors Society, he’s been active in monitoring, writing and blogging about media and journalism ever since he graduated.
Obsessed with good storytelling and journalistic excellence, Will uses snark, humor and reason to distill dumb shit and make it fun. He’s a seeker/maker of non-consensus news, and helps you cure crankies by finding the nut in every story.
As for-profit media continues to fail us, it’s more important than ever to find reliable sources. Authentic storytelling exists—you just have to look for it. On this blog you’ll get ideas, not ideology. Sass with class. Reporting with rapport. Evidence with a touch of evil. You get the idea.
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